Georgian President Concedes, Says His Party Will Become Opposition

In a televised address, Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili has conceded that his ruling United National Movement (UNM) party has lost the October 1 parliamentary elections and is going into opposition.

"It's clear from the preliminary results that the opposition has the lead and it should form the government," Saakashvili said. "And I, as president, should help them with this."

With nearly one-quarter of ballots counted, Georgia's Central Election Commission said on October 2 that the opposition Georgian Dream coalition led by billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili was leading both in the vote for party lists and in direct voting districts.

In its assessment of the vote, observers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) said Georgia had taken an "important step in consolidating conduct of democratic elections, but some key issues remain."

The OSCE said that, despite "a very polarized campaign," Georgians "have freely expressed their will at the ballot box.”

Seventy-seven members of parliament are being elected based on party lists. The remaining 73 members are being elected directly in voting districts.

Saakashvili came to power in the bloodless Rose Revolution of 2003 and his presidential mandate ends in 2013.

He has steered Georgia away from Russia and toward the West.

n a televised address, Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili has conceded that his ruling United National Movement (UNM) party has lost the October 1 parliamentary elections and is going into opposition.

"It's clear from the preliminary results that the opposition has the lead and it should form the government," Saakashvili said. "And I, as president, should help them with this."

With nearly one-quarter of ballots counted, Georgia's Central Election Commission said on October 2 that the opposition Georgian Dream coalition led by billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili was leading both in the vote for party lists and in direct voting districts.

In its assessment of the vote, observers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) said Georgia had taken an "important step in consolidating conduct of democratic elections, but some key issues remain."

The OSCE said that, despite "a very polarized campaign," Georgians "have freely expressed their will at the ballot box.”

Seventy-seven members of parliament are being elected based on party lists. The remaining 73 members are being elected directly in voting districts.

Saakashvili came to power in the bloodless Rose Revolution of 2003 and his presidential mandate ends in 2013.

He has steered Georgia away from Russia and toward the West.

Litmus Test

Saakashvili had said Ivanishvili would move Georgia away from the West and bring it back into Moscow's orbit.

Ivanishvili denied this. The billionaire said he would pursue Georgia's strategic goals of joining NATO and the European Union, as well as normalizing relations with Russia.

Those ties were damaged in 2008 when the two countries fought a brief war over two Georgian breakaway regions.

Saakashvili had said Ivanishvili would move Georgia away from the West and bring it back into Moscow's orbit.

Ivanishvili denied this. The billionaire said he would pursue Georgia's strategic goals of joining NATO and the European Union, as well as normalizing relations with Russia.

Those ties were damaged in 2008 when the two countries fought a brief war over two Georgian breakaway regions.